THE
COPPIE
OF
A
LETTR
From
my
Lord
Generall
his
QUARTERS
.
SIR
,
ON
Wednesday
the
21.
of
August
1644.
the
Kings
whole
Armie
:
both
his
own
brigade
,
Maurices
and
Greenvils
were
all
drawn
into
the
field
in
a
battalia
,
supposed
to
be
about
30000.
And
the
Lord
Generalls
Army
being
onely
about
,
10000.
horse
and
foot
,
we
likewise
drew
out
into
the
field
.
The
Kings
Army
appeared
in
a
whole
body
in
the
forme
of
a
halfe
Moon
,
within
a
mile
of
Listlehall
,
the
Kings
forces
with
this
great
body
marched
up
within
Musket
shot
of
the
Lord
Generalls
Armie
,
about
4.
of
the
Clocke
in
the
morning
,
my
Lord
Generalls
Army
began
to
play
their
Ordnance
against
them
,
and
it
is
cononceived
did
good
execution
:
The
fight
held
all
that
day
between
the
Ordnance
and
the
Muskettires
,
and
is
conceived
our
men
did
good
execution
:
upon
the
Enemie
,
and
at
night
some
shot
on
both
sides
were
made
by
the
Musquetiers
.
On
Thur●day
night
the
Enemie
cast
up
an
Halfe
Moon
upon
the
Beake
hill
,
on
which
they
planted
two
or
three
peece
of
or●nance
and
played
all
the
next
day
being
Friday
upon
our
bodie
.
On
S●tt●rday
August
the
24.
Sergeant
Major
Generall
Whithcot
with
the
〈◊〉
Regiment
,
and
Collonel
Wares
of
the
White
Regiment
,
and
the
blew
●●giment
of
the
Lord
Generals
,
taking
into
consideration
that
the
gaining
of
●●●●itheel
River
would
be
very
advantagious
to
our
Army
,
by
stopping
up
of
the
water
,
to
make
a
Dam
to
hinder
provision
from
passing
that
way
to
the
●ing●
Army
,
drew
out
their
men
to
ambuscado
the
hedges
,
and
the
souldiers
themselves
wrought
the
mean
while
to
raise
the
Banks
,
and
made
a
compleat
D●m
;
which
was
finish●d
by
Tuesday
following
.
O●●unday
the
25.
of
August
,
the
Kings
forces
made
some
shot
with
small
P●●c●s
,
and
were
answered
again
from
ours
;
and
that
with
great
courage
from
Collonel
Gower
of
the
red
Regiment
,
and
divers
others
.
Major
Generall
Skippon
was
shot
in
the
right
hand
,
but
onely
a
brush
,
and
tore
his
Buffe
coat
on
that
on
that
side
,
but
no
great
hurt
God
be
praised
,
On
the
Kings
party
Colonell
Chapernoone
was
shet
in
the
head
,
and
taken
prisoner
,
supposed
to
be
mortally
wounded
.
On
Munday
the
26.
of
August
,
both
partees
still
played
each
upon
other
,
but
still
we
found
that
although
my
Lord
Generall
was
fewer
in
number
,
yet
my
Lords
forces
made
many
more
shot
then
the
Kings
,
and
especially
my
Lord
Generals
warning
Piece
,
which
played
continually
.
On
Tuesday
the
27.
of
August
,
the
Enemy
having
drawn
themselves
off
the
day
before
about
3000.
horse
and
foot
,
that
partee
marched
towards
a
●lace
call●d
Bl●z●y
Bridge
,
about
three
miles
from
Lestitheel
,
which
they
did
,
to
stop
the
passage
of
Provision
from
Milly-Billy
Bay
if
they
could
,
from
comming
,
to
my
Lord
Generall
;
for
by
taking
it
,
my
Lord
could
not
have
provisions
,
but
by
breaking
through
them
.
We
had
at
that
time
not
above
●0
or
thereabouts
to
guard
the
Bridge
,
which
they
made
good
till
relief
came
,
against
all
the
strength
of
the
Enemy
.
There
hath
been
great
bic●ering
about
this
Bridge
,
and
indeed
a
good
partee
came
up
to
assist
our
forces
there
,
who
then
plaid
upon
the
Enemy
with
great
courage
,
and
it
is
believed
slew
many
.
My
Lord
Generall
sent
1000.
horse
and
1000.
foot
of
commanded
men
,
to
maintain
Blazey
bridge
,
the
Enemy
lying
of
one
side
the
water
,
and
ours
of
the
other
;
on
out
part
Sergeant
Major
Skippon
commanded
in
chief
,
there
was
also
Captain
Cromwell
of
foot
,
and
of
horse
Major
Generall
Berry
,
and
others
:
After
our
horse
and
soot
had
made
good
Blazey
bridge
many
dayes
,
and
the
rest
Defended
themselues
against
so
,
numerous
a
companie
of
the
Kings
forc●s
for
almost
20
daies
,
in
continuall
skirmishing
,
and
no
forces
were
come
to
relieve
my
Lord
Generall
,
a
great
number
of
the
kings
forses
fell
upon
four
Regiments
of
ours
,
which
caused
three
of
them
to
retreat
,
and
the
fourth
,
which
were
Colonell
Wares
,
new
leavied
forces
ran
away
,
but
the
London
foot
stood
gallantly
to
it
,
Major
Generall
Skippon
fought
like
a
Lyon
:
My
Lord
Generall
engaged
himself
so
much
all
this
while
,
of
so
many
dayes
skirmishing
,
that
now
his
EXCELLENCI●
was
constrained
to
remove
his
quarters
,
whereby
hee
gained
an
opportunity
to
go
to
Plimouth
himself
,
where
his
Excellencie
is
safe
with
the
Lord
Roberts
and
others
,
from
whence
his
Excellencie
intends
to
come
to
Portchmouth
.
They
then
called
a
Counsell
of
War
,
and
as
it
was
by
the
said
Counsell
concluded
,
the
horse
brake
through
the
Kings
forces
,
and
the
Enemie
having
incompasses
30.
and
odd
of
our
foot
,
who
cryed
for
quarter
,
the
Enemie
cryed
out
as
with
one
voyce
,
Put
all
to
the
sword
,
all
to
the
sword
,
and
accordingly
did
they
massacre
all
of
them
but
two
,
who
got
away
and
c●me
to
the
rest
of
our
foot
,
and
told
them
how
the
Kings
forces
were
resolved
to
put
all
to
the
sword
,
our
foot
still
standing
out
,
and
fighting
with
great
courage
:
So
that
Major
generall
Skippon
gained
better
Conditions
from
the
Enemie
,
then
was
expected
:
And
had
succour
,
all
this
time
been
sent
to
my
Lord
Generall
,
he
had
not
been
with
his
Army
in
this
condition
,
who
was
himselfe
so
carefull
in
the
Defending
of
his
Army
:
and
stood
out
against
the
Enemie
so
long
expecting
relief
:
that
had
he
not
that
night
Changed
his
quarters
he
had
been
taken
prisoner
.
But
seeing
that
it
hath
pleased
God
that
we
have
sustained
this
losse
,
(
which
I
hope
through
Gods
providence
will
turne
to
his
honour
,
and
our
good
)
I
hope
those
forces
that
are
to
march
up
to
the
West
,
will
hasten
the
more
,
to
prevent
further
mischief
,
by
the
Enemie
.
We
have
had
many
experiences
of
Gods
love
,
in
all
places
of
the
Kingdome
,
and
how
the
Lord
hath
done
great
things
for
us
,
when
we
have
been
very
low
,
and
although
we
have
had
these
losses
as
we
may
apprehend
it
may
be
much
to
our
hurt
,
but
Gods
waies
are
not
our
waies
,
the
Lord
can
turne
it
to
good
:
when
Gods
time
of
Deliverance
is
come
I
am
confiden●
that
all
the
Cavaliers
in
England
,
all
the
Rebels
of
Ireland
,
and
all
the
Popish
priests
,
Fryers
,
Jesuites
,
and
Papists
in
all
their
Armies
,
cannot
be
able
to
stand
before
him
.
God
is
all
sufficien
if
we
have
but
hearts
to
trust
him
,
he
will
save
us
:
Thus
in
hast
I
rest
.
Your
humble
〈◊〉
Servant
.
Plimouth
the
3.
of
September
.
16●4
.
A
Letter
From
a
Commander
of
Note
in
the
Leagure
before
Pomfret
.
SIR
,
COlonell
Sands
Commander
in
chief
,
of
the
forces
before
Pomphret
Castle
,
Marched
with
his
own
Regiment
,
consisting
of
seven
Troopes
of
horse
to
Kippax
,
within
six
miles
of
Pomsret
castle
,
where
we
had
notice
that
the
Enemy
had
drawn
out
four
hundred
horse
and
foot
,
intending
to
have
fallen
upon
our
quarters
,
but
we
drew
that
night
into
the
field
,
and
planted
our selves
in
so
convenient
a
place
,
that
had
they
fallen
upon
our
quarters
,
where
our
Colonell
onely
left
enough
to
draw
them
on
with
the
geater
eagernesse
;
We
had
fallen
into
the
flank
&
rear
of
them
,
But
I
fear
the
Malignants
and
ill
affected
of
the
Countrey
gave
them
notice
in
what
a
posture
we
were
.
Not
hearing
of
them
we
marched
.
and
took
up
our
quarters
that
night
at
Brotherton
,
within
two
miles
of
the
castle
,
and
drew
about
two
of
the
clock
into
the
field
,
and
marched
towards
the
castle
,
and
planted
our selves
within
Halfe-cannon
shot
of
them
,
under
a
hill
.
We
marched
about
the
town
,
and
faced
them
the
greatest
part
of
that
day
,
but
not
being
able
to
draw
them
forth
;
we
withdrew
and
quartered
that
night
at
Medley
where
we
joyned
Eight
troops
of
horse
more
,
&
marched
next
day
to
the
castle
.
The
Enemie
then
drew
forth
both
Horse
and
foot
,
and
with
their
Horse
skirmished
the
greatest
part
of
that
day
with
us
,
we
forced
them
severall
times
that
day
to
retreat
,
but
the
hedges
being
lined
with
Musqueteeres
,
we
were
enforc●d
to
forbear
the
pursuite
:
But
towards
the
Evening
,
having
pulled
down
some
hedges
our
Colonell
sent
a
party
of
horse
(
being
under
their
cannon
)
to
fall
in
the
rear
of
their
Ambascade
,
both
of
horse
and
foot
,
which
they
perceiving
stayed
not
to
make
a
retreat
,
but
shamefully
ran
;
We
pursued
them
to
the
castle
gates
,
and
killed
there
a
Lieuetenant
and
four
Voluntiers
of
quality
:
Sir
John
Redmayns
son
narrowly
escaped
,
and
was
forced
to
leave
his
Horse
and
Armes
behinde
him
and
escaped
on
foote
,
wee
wounded
many
,
and
took
twelve
prisoners
,
two
of
them
being
chief
Gunners
of
the
castle
,
which
came
out
with
the
Musqueteeres
,
all
the
losse
on
our
side
,
was
one
Captain
slightly
cut
in
the
head
,
one
wounded
and
one
taken
prisoner
.
We
had
daily
strong
parties
about
them
,
and
are
still
facing
of
the
Castle
,
that
we
may
straighten
them
,
and
hinder
them
from
plundering
,
pillaging
and
molesting
the
traffick●
of
the
Countie
,
which
they
did
in
a
great
measure
,
untill
it
pleased
my
Lord
Fairfax
to
send
us
hither
:
That
day
that
we
scirmished
with
them
,
we
took
(
after
we
had
beat
them
into
the
Castle
)
of
their
provisions
,
100.
Sheep
,
and
40.
Oxen
,
which
our
Colonell
hath
sent
to
the
Committee
of
York
to
be
dispesed
of
for
the
publique
use
,
and
although
our
noble
Colonell
hath
disbursed
a
great
deal
of
mony
in
this
service
,
yet
he
quits
all
private
respects
,
and
implies
himselfe
wholly
,
to
serve
the
Publique
:
We
are
now
drawne
with
all
our
horse
before
the
Castle
,
and
have
fetched
in
the
drafts
of
the
Countrey
,
and
are
carying
into
our
own
quarters
all
the
the
carne
about
the
towne
,
which
shall
be
disposed
of
as
the
Committee
at
York
shall
appoint
.
My
Lord
hath
promised
to
send
us
both
foot
&
cannon
;
we
doubt
not
then
but
to
render
the
Honourble
Houses
of
Parliament
a
good
account
of
this
castle
.
Our
Canon
are
planted
before
Hemsley
Castle
and
we
hope
speedily
to
take
it
,
I
shall
as
often
as
I
can
give
you
notice
of
our
proceedings
in
these
parts
,
Sir
Thomas
Fairfax
is
most
unfortunately
shot
in
the
shoulder
,
by
a
bullet
from
the
Enemie
in
Hemsley
Castle
.
Your
affection
Friend
:
From
before
Pomfret
,
29
of
August
.
1644.
at
4.
of
the
clocke
in
the
afternoone
.
FOr
other
particulars
,
they
are
referred
to
a
Commander
of
note
who
is
comming
from
my
Lord
Generall
with
them
.
In
the
mean
time
,
how●ver
we
have
had
so
great
a
losse
,
yet
have
we
cause
to
give
God
tha●●es
that
our
losse
is
in
our
Artillery
,
and
not
in
men
:
The
Kings
forces
be●●g
resolved
before
,
to
put
every
man
of
them
to
the
sword
;
such
is
their
cruelty
against
honest
true
hearted
Protestants
.
N●●
let
us
be
discouraged
for
all
this
,
for
our
extremity
hath
hitherto
been
Gods
opportunity
;
and
there●o●e
let
all
honest
Protestants
joyn
hand
,
and
heart
,
and
purse
,
and
all
we
have
,
according
to
our
Covenant
;
(
and
that
without
any
more
such
delayes
)
for
the
helping
forward
of
the
work
of
the
Lord
,
against
his
and
our
cruell
and
bloud-thirsty
Enemies
.
And
thus
farre
the
Lord
hath
blessed
the
Parliaments
endeavours
towards
the
relief
of
the
Lord
Generall
already
,
with
a
supply
now
going
to
him
with
Sir
William
Wallers
own
Forces
,
and
800.
out
of
Kent
well
mounted
and
armed
,
which
came
to
him
on
Thursday
last
;
3800.
of
Generall
Middletons
horse
and
dragoons
,
besides
foot
,
and
those
which
Sir
William
Waller
expects
from
Chichester
,
Arundell
,
and
the
Isle
of
Wight
:
Collonel
M●sseyes
also
,
and
the
Forces
of
the
Noble
Earle
of
Manchester
.
God
blesse
them
,
and
go
along
with
them
,
to
his
glory
;
and
the
Peace
,
truth
settlement
,
and
comfort
,
of
this
poor
distressed
Kingdome
.